Event Coverage Portland swap meet 2017 who's going ?

Just wondering how many of you guys are going . There is 6-7 of us Alaskans headed down . We have 49ft of deck space on my trailer to fill up . Looking to pick up a few projects to bring up this way . I have a large list for current projects . If any of you guys are venders put your space in here so folks can say hello .

See ya there !


Sent from the frozen North

 

Hey Ed,
Portland is such a cool place. If we did not live in So Cal, my wife wants to live in Portland. A beautiful river going west to the ocean, east inland through some of the most beautiful scenery going and 7 plus bridges from Washington to the Portland for convenience. Sailing on the river would be great, but the current makes things plod along. The quaint homes are pricey but not as much as So Cal. We visited a couple of times on vacation and once stayed for a couple of weeks.

But, one time in April, we wanted to go to the Portland Raceway Swap Meet and drove all the way up there for a week's worth of coastal cruising and layovers. At the time, we did not know that another swap meet would be happening at the same time just up the road near the Columbia River.

By the time we were in Portland, traffic was heavy with all of the visitors for that weekend. We called 10 miles north and 40 miles south to every hotel, motel and campgrounds to see if there were any openings. Not one opening except for 100 miles south in Eugene. We had finished most of our vacation and wanted to stop in Portland that weekend for the swap meet and the sights along the river. But, with no rooms available and a 200 mile round trip up and back(from Eugene), that was not going to cut it. So, we kept driving south to Ashland and stayed there one night.

Then, it was back to So Cal through inland routes to Lake Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. The Portland Swap Meets will have to be another year or so... But, they were big city stopping events.

If this event is the one you are talking about in the April weekend, there are two going on at the same time, about 2 miles apart. Room reservations are a must if you want to go to these events that weekend.
Jnaki
As an aside, (For anyone visiting) the drive out all along the Columbia River to the Maryhill Winery will cap off your day perfectly. (concert and wines) In town, try the Grochau wines store in the north west. Powell's for books and Voodoo for donuts, a must on any visit.

 

40 miles north of Portland with 6 inches of snow and it's supposed to continue through out the day.

 

Maybe we won't have snow by then.
The last couple of times we have gone down we didn't make it pass the race track over into the main swap meet. Too little time and too much walking.
Last time we went we went on Sunday and that was a bust at the race track except for finding some bargains from the guys who were intent on staying to the end and getting rid of everything they took. We did get to park outside the gate and walk in though rather than parking in a far away lot and taking the bus.

I doubt if I will go this year as I don't really want to buy many more large parts until I get the shop up and can use them. The money and time would probably be better spent on the shop.

Portland and the surrounding areas are full of motels and hotels but the area can have so many events going on at one time that they do fill up. We have stayed at the Comfort inn off Sandy Blvd out near the airport a couple of times and it has a good size parking lot out back for those driving big pickups. It is also a pretty reasonable shot to the swap meet from there through the industrial area until you get within a mile or so of the swapmeet. No fighting traffic on I 5 if you pick the right route.

 

Ed ! Trying to get a old friend of mine to team up with me and go down. He has been talking of going for years . Will see.
Vic

 

The PIR one starts on Thursday, and EXPO starts on Friday. I'll drive down on Wednesday night and hit each on their first day.

 

Vic
We have hotel rooms rented but last I checked a few weeks ago there was only a few left . We are walking distance from the swap . Keep me posted !
Ed


Sent from the frozen North

 

We get in Tuesday so we can hit opening on both .


Sent from the frozen North

 

Missed it last year but will be there this time with about 5 booths.

 

Are they still going to have then CIRCUS at the same time, it takes up a lot of the vender space?

 

Haven't been for a couple of years but may make it over this year. It's a pretty amazing event. You'll walk your legs off. Bring rain gear. Portland can be pretty wet that time of year but never seems to dampen the enthusiasm.

 

We will be there in spaces 9189 & 9190 again this year, last year was great, Zero rain! And remember, We have great prices, 'cause we cheat the other guy, and pass the savings on to you! And Yup, we are the folks with the little bubble blowing Dude

 

I'll stop by and introduce myself , see you there .


Sent from the frozen North

 

I'll stop by , and wait till the other guy buys something first !


Sent from the frozen North

 

got a truck full heading down from Eastern Washington.

 

You at PIR or the expo ?


Sent from the frozen North

 

Last year they used that area for parking for the vendors.

 

From what I've herd the Circus is every other year. That's why they use it for parking on the off years because they can't sell those stalls?

 

According to their site, all the spaces sell out quickly.
http://portlandswapmeet.com/vendorappl/vendorappl.htm
The Portland Expo site only shows the Swap Meet at the Expo Site that weekend.

 

Anybody from Surrey/Langley going? PM me.

 

Not me. Too stormy right now. Any let up later in rhe week?

Sent from my SM-G930T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

same here. I have never seen anything like this in my life, and I have lived in the PNW for 56 years.

 

I can't wait! I'll be there all weekend trying to waste my money on something.

 

Truck full of people.


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Well I hope it's gone soon ! We have gotten more snow this year than we have in years !



Sent from the frozen North

 

Why would do they do an outdoor event in the rainy season in the PNW?

 

I don't mind it.. Keeps the wusses at home. If your not prepared for rain at the Portland swap then your not prepared.

 

That's a funny statement coming from someone who lives in the "sunnyside" of Washington.

FYI, I live West of the Cascades in Oregon. There's a difference between being a "wuss" and bad judgement. There's a reason why most outdoor events aren't scheduled in the rainy season.

Thanks for answering my question.

 

Wouldn't miss it

 

Purely curious
A born webfoot or a transplant?